Identification of Large Wolf Spiders

Some of the biggest spiders in the world can have leg spans of 12 inches! If you have a fear of spiders and live in Virginia, you don’t need to worry. These large spiders are not found in our state. The largest spider in the state of Virginia is the wolf spider, with a leg span of four inches and a body that measures up to 1 ½ inches. The wolf spider is mottled gray to brown in color and has a distinct Union Jack pattern in its back. These spiders are ground dwellers and use a borrow to retreat. They are nocturnal and will hunt at night. They can be unnerving as they move quickly when they are disturbed. They can be found around the home and garden areas in silk lined burrows that may have a lid that is covered to conceal it. The bite of a wolf spider is poisonous but not deadly. They are not aggressive and will typically bite if they are provoked and should be considered dangerous. The bite can be very painful and medical attention is needed as soon as possible.

Other Large Spider Types Found in Virginia

Black and yellow garden spider. These spiders can be found guarding our gardens and are easy to spot with the yellow and black coloring of their abdomen. The legs have alternating bands of black and orange, but this pattern can vary from one spider to the next. The females are four times as big as the males who are not as colorful. You will notice the webs of these spiders about knee-high off the ground in sunny, still areas of the garden. These spiders can be intimidating with their long legs that make them look bigger than they are. When they are disturbed they will quickly drop to the ground. They are not likely to bite unless they feel threatened. They are not dangerous, but a bite will result in mild swelling however it won’t be as painful as a bee sting

Nursery web spider. Coloring can vary from gray to orange to dark brown. Their abdomen is slender and is divided with a pale line. They also have ‘tear marks’ on the side of their eyes. They can be found in dense vegetation. The female is larger than the male. These spiders are powerful hunters and are active day and night. They can be found waiting motionless on leaves or stems waiting for prey. They won’t spin a web but the female will construct a “nursery web” to suspend her egg sac and guard hatching spiderlings. A bite can happen if the egg sac is disturbed as the female will guard her sac ferociously and while the bite is not dangerous it can be quite painful due to the size of this spider.

Barn spider. There is no reason to be fearful of barn spiders; in fact they can be a great asset. They are not a threat to humans and reduce the number of other bugs. These spiders are grayish in color with a rounded abdomen that has several small humps towards the front of its body. Their bodies are hairy, and the female is significantly larger than the male. They are nocturnal and will spin a new web every night to catch prey. The bite of a barn spider will result in irritation and redness at the bite site.

Spider Control

If you have a fear of spiders and would like your home and property free of them or other pests, contact Eagle Pest Services for help today!